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UMaine 25-26: Marques My Word: Back to the Big Time

Was there again tonight. Obviously, this is a game that you expect to win if you're Maine, and one you probably should win. Especially at home. But, in their last two second games of the weekend (tonight and Friday in Amherst), they have one goal on 83 shots, or a 1.2 S%. 0 on 38 down there and 1 on 45 tonight. And I dont think in either game those shots were made up just little flicks from the halfwall, they had chances in front and set plays and they just didn't go in. There will be some positive regression to the mean and some of those will start to go in. And, I just keep coming back to how young they are, its going to take time to fully come together and play at full potential. It may not even happen this season, truthfully. But I still think it will, and Im expecting a second semester win streak. Maybe Im too optimistic and too confident, but Im not finding myself melting down at this point.
 
There is nothing worse than watching empty dump and chase hockey and once Vermont went into that 1-1-3 in the third, Maine really struggled to break through. Another game where the Bears waited until it was too late to dial up the intensity. Last night it felt like all the bounces went their way and tonight they could barely win a 50/50 puck. A lot of strange bounces and Vermont forcing Maine to win battles along the boards (which we definitely didn't do enough of).

They definitely also got "goalied" tonight. Mangbo looking like prime Gabe Carriere who always used to play great against us.
 
Well they just weren't synched up tonight, mango played tough, missing the 4th line, and vermont isnt a 7 zip team - better than that.

Im liking how langlois is developing, he is becoming one of our best D in a short time. Good skater smooth moves and smart in where to send the puck. Peterson and usereau are coming along nicely. Djurasevicks head isnt in it this year -- yet. Chabrier is solid and thank god for holt.
 
grooverider said:
You mean swept? Maybe Gustafsson can score both nights game winners
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Maybe former unh conmy can score both.

Looks like Maine and unh share a saturday night problem. both losing the 2 nd night of a series.

Didn't see game but I'm not surprised. Last year team had lots of on ice leadership, not so sure of that this year. Too many new faces.
 
Two consecutive weeks where Maine gets out worked defensively in second game! Hard to figure college hockey. Huge win for Vermont! They deserved it! Wiedler very emotional in post game interview. Mangbo playing with injury and then leaving in closing minutes of third period could have given Maine an opportunity.
 
cooch said:
Looking ahead to the following weekend at BC, I want to give other Maine fans first option to 2 tickets I have but can no longer use for the Saturday night game on 11/22 at Conte Forum. Seats are Section MM, Row 16, seats 15 & 16, price $80 for the two of them. If interested reply to this and I'll get in touch with you.
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Last chance before these go up to the general public on Monday.
 
Really disappointed with the lack of fight Maine showed last night. That was a must win game and they didn’t have it in them to get over the line. Full credit to Vermont who Maine could learn a lot from. They have a few very good players but are clearly inferior to Maine talent wise but did what it took to win.

I really feel for Barr(and his family, he must be miserable to be around) right now. To win in any sport at an elite level in the modern day you really have to fight like **** and this team doesn’t have that. Perhaps they will develop it but I fear the damage has been done.

As far as building for the future who knows how many of the guys that came in this year stick around, but one thing that is clear to me is Maine would be well served to get older guys who really are up for it. That is primarily where Barr has had success recruiting and I think he should go back there next year.
 
Lots of programs went all in on the CHL recruiting strategy.....it was like a feeding frenzy. And now the results are bearing that out across the college hockey landscape. It's been a weird season for Maine so far....Boija has been a bit off and the team has been a bit off. They have the talent but last night's loss was a definitely a lost opportunity with 2 at BC on deck.
 
Drew S. said:
Really disappointed with the lack of fight Maine showed last night. That was a must win game and they didn’t have it in them to get over the line. Full credit to Vermont who Maine could learn a lot from. They have a few very good players but are clearly inferior to Maine talent wise but did what it took to win.

I really feel for Barr(and his family, he must be miserable to be around) right now. To win in any sport at an elite level in the modern day you really have to fight like **** and this team doesn’t have that. Perhaps they will develop it but I fear the damage has been done.

As far as building for the future who knows how many of the guys that came in this year stick around, but one thing that is clear to me is Maine would be well served to get older guys who really are up for it. That is primarily where Barr has had success recruiting and I think he should go back there next year.
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At the same time nobody is running away with hockey east. Maine is 2 points out of 1st with a game in hand and currently sits in 3rd. Tough challenge at BC, but appears as though BC isn’t as strong as in years past either.

I’m happy with where Maine is at because I know in years when you have 13 new faces it usually can be difficult. Just happy they aren’t terrible, which can happen. I think the CHL guys are really the difference between being bad and being decent. Look at the contributions from Poirier, Lipinski, Marques, Gerrior, and Langlois. I think the only freshman making a strong impact not from CHL is Peterson who is the youngest player on the team and a stud out of USHL, where he was second leading defensemen scorer at young age.

So I think it is exactly the opposite where these young guys have more upside and they will continue to improve and lift the team as the season goes on. Maine is the highest scoring team in hockey east. I think once the pairs get better and Boija gets back to normal Maine will be a power house.

Until then I see them around 12th or so in the country and a 3rd or 4th place team in hockey east. If they improve like I expect Maine is likely a #6 team in the country and a #2 team in hockey east. That is about where Maine was last year.

So I will continue to disagree with most of what you say because most of what you think is negative and dumb.
 
Maine is averaging 5.5 goals a game in their wins and one tie. They are averaging .75 goals a game in their loses. That’s a perfect snapshot of their season. They have loads of offense and know how to use it - except when teams smother them and make them go 200 feet for 60 minutes.

Consistency, playing a full 120 minutes for a weekend, and going to hard areas to score goals when it’s not easy are their areas of improvement. The work ethic has already improved. It’s not where it needs to be yet.

But they have to string some games together here and go on a run. There aren’t going to be 6 HE teams in the tournament this year. They had a nice 4 game winning streak. Now they have dropped 2 of 3. Need to finish out the calendar year strong. Wins are going to be hard to come by.
 
UncleRay said:
Do you mean, "passed out"??
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I was a 19 YO college student... Way too poor to drink!

My asshole RA - a complete douchebag from Calais - wouldn't so much as let me sleep even in the basement of Corbett Hall just before the dorm opened the next morning, or even in his car. He lived to regret that, but I was on the cold ground on the outdoor rink and slept not at all. (Think Leadbelly's "Black Girl".) Had a light frost that night.

Enough about me, what am I missing re: the van references? Must have been after my time, but it sounds interesting.
 
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